news 4's jim rosenthal reports. >> 31 degrees outside. we're freezing. >> reporter: desperate pleas from the powerless in essex county. residents see utility trucks and beg for relief. >> is it tough on you guys? >> yeah. we're doing our best. a lot of damage. >> reporter: their best means navigating around a maze of massive downed trees. 100 of them in essex fells alone. it is slowing restoration to the estimated 700,000 customers still without power in a state with about 1.5 million still in the dark at last count. >> i looked outside and it was like christmas. somebody delivering new telephone poles. >> reporter: and more help is on the way. after governor christie urged the utilities to speed up restoration. thousands of crews from other states are now descending on the region. the first of 1500 from virginia dominion set out from national harbor in maryland. the largest out of state deployment ever mobilized by that company. even with the extra help it's messes like this that slows the crews down. the company estimates it will be the